Journal Article — The Present Father: Applying Sociological Theory from A Father’s Standpoint — by Edmund J. Melia

My greatest joy in life and biggest source of pride is being a father. I take the responsibilities that come with being a parent very seriously and I am completely involved in all aspects of my daughter’s upbringing. However, there have been many instances where I have felt treated as less than an equal parent because I am not the mother. I have felt like I am on a second tier when it comes to receiving information and making decisions about my daughter’s livelihood. The purpose of this sociological self-exploration, applying various sociological theories and concepts in a sociological imagination framework, is to understand why I get so offended by this treatment and why I take it so seriously. I want to learn why this issue has been so important to me ever since my wife and I went to our first doctor’s appointment to confirm that we were having a child.